Ebmaj9 Guitar Chord

Ebmaj9 is the E flat major ninth chord. It has five notes: E flat, G, B flat, D and F. The main shape sits at the 6th fret with the root on the A string and a small barre across the top two strings.

5fr21433×E♭GDFB♭

Root on the A string at the 6th fret, with the ring finger laid across the top two strings and the pinky reaching the 7th fret of the G. All five notes on five strings.

How to play Ebmaj9, step by step

  1. Index finger: 5th fret, D string
  2. Middle finger: 6th fret, A string
  3. Ring finger: press flat across the B to high E strings at fret 6
  4. Pinky finger: 7th fret, G string
  5. Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

The A string names the chord: slide the whole grip down two frets for C#maj9 or up two for Fmaj9. The fingering never changes.

More ways to play Ebmaj9

There are 2 common Ebmaj9 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Barre at fret 11
Ebmaj9 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 11, played 11 13 12 12 11 13

Bright and chiming this high up, with the ninth ringing over a full stack. Best where the chord is meant to shine for a moment.

If notes drop out

The small barre catches only one string
The ring finger lays across the B and high E strings at the 6th fret. Flatten its last joint so both strings press evenly.
The B string is muted
The pinky reaching the 7th fret of the G string is leaning over. Arch it and land on the tip so the barre under it can ring.
The low E rings
It is not part of the chord. Strum from the A string down, or let the tip of the middle finger rest against the low E.

What makes it an Ebmaj9

E♭ · G · B♭ · D · F 1 3 5 7 9

Ebmaj9 is an Ebmaj7 chord with a ninth added: E flat, G, B flat and D make the seventh chord, and the F on top makes it a ninth.

It is the I chord of E flat major at its softest. E flat is a horn and piano key, so on guitar this chord belongs to soul, gospel and jazz charts, and the movable grips on this page are how guitarists meet it.

Ebmaj9 vs Ebmaj7

Ebmaj9 is Ebmaj7 with an F added. The seventh already smooths the chord; the ninth widens it and makes it sound arranged.

Both keep the root on the A string in the middle of the neck, so where a chart writes Ebmaj7 and the bar is long, the ninth is one finger away.

Ebmaj9 chord questions

Is Ebmaj9 the same as D#maj9?

Yes, one chord with two names. E flat is how the keys this chord lives in spell it, so that is the name used here.

What is the difference between Ebmaj9 and Eb9?

Eb9 has a D flat, the flat seventh, and pulls toward A flat. Ebmaj9 has a D natural and stays put. One drives, the other rests.

What is the difference between Ebmaj9 and Ebmaj7?

The ninth, F. Ebmaj7 is E flat, G, B flat and D; the maj9 stacks the F on top and sounds wider.

Is there an easier Ebmaj9?

The 6th fret shape is the easy one: no full barre, just the ring finger across two strings. The six string barre at the 11th fret is the harder grip.

Where is Ebmaj9 used?

As the I chord of E flat major in jazz, soul and gospel, usually from a piano or horn chart.

Chords to learn next

Other Eb chords